Review by sonnysin168 August 26, 2010 (15 of 18 found this review helpful)

Performance: Sonics:

My copy was delivered to my office in Manila very late in the afternoon yesterday by EMS Int'l after the plane carrying it arrived from Tokyo in the morning. The packaging is similar to other shm-sacd earlier issued. But this sure sounds different from the shm-cd version of the same album that I have. Much, much better!

From the opening song Down To The Waterline, I was impressed with the very quiet background, crisp and smooth highs and big, deep bass. My very favorite Sultans Of Swing never sounded as good as this version's (I also have this cut in the HDCD encoded The Very Best of Dire Straits). The details were near perfect: brilliant and sparkling guitar work without being bright. Check out the sound of the Dobro: vibrant and resonating! Mark Knofler's voice is smoother yet fuller. The rest of the other cuts were just as impressive: they all sounded quite good. Maybe I can qualify this IMO as another demonstration quality sacd.

This is quite an expensive disc compared to others just released and not yet out-of-print. Actually this is my 2nd shm-sacd (Aja being the 1st). I guess we have to shell out a lot for quality sacd these days. But in my opinion the expense for this disc is really worth it.

Review by JimiDiscs September 3, 2010 (13 of 17 found this review helpful)

Performance: Sonics:

With the rather long lead time for this release, my assumptions about its quality wavered. But why should I worry? There was a Winwood involved in the production, Steve's brother Muff produced, so it had to come out well. I think I may have underestimated what they could do with this album sonically.

It sounds superb. Of course, the quality of the material and the playing have long kept this album actively played on my sound system. But it never sounded like this. I never imagined it could sound like this. The vinyl can be a bit murky by comparison and the CDs, in their various re-mastering states, never hinted at the warmth and cohesive tone this version displays.

To get it out of the way, this is one of my all-time favorite albums. It is the best Bob Dylan album Bob Dylan never did. The lyrics are flavored by a proud son of Britain, and they flow so well with a musical accompaniment that is at once distinctive and unique yet delicate and full bodied. It is one of those rare albums that if the songs were stripped to bare bones, they would still excel and the music could stand on its own if it were an instrumental only work. If put together they propel the listener to a world Knopfler and company build for them.

As for the sound, this presentation is one of the finest recorded works I have ever heard. The lows are full, extended and natural. The highs are clear and smooth. The mids give each instrument the space it deserves. The stereo mix is well balanced. The imaging from front to back is well maintained. They even seem to get you to feel it as Knopfler moves his guitar to 'squeeze' out the the ringing tomes on his guitar.

If you favor Dire Straits, this is their best album at its best sounding. If you are unfamiliar with the band, what a great place to start. If you do not like the band, you will after you hear this version.

Review by Espen R September 30, 2010 (13 of 18 found this review helpful)

Performance: Sonics:

A definitive "master tape sound" of this classic album. Very warm sounding in a natural way and crystal clear sound with no harshness in sound. Very, very analogue sounding with splendid body and weight to voices and instruments. Great resolution and "speed" on transients. I have never heard the track "Sultans of swing" with such "fastness" in sound.